The Reactor is a custom car built by Gene Winfield. The low slung car featured height adjustable suspension, front wheel drive, and a powerful engine, and appeared in episodes of four TV series: Bewitched , Star Trek, Batman, and Mission: Impossible. [1]
After completing construction of his Strip Star car, Winfield's next project was even more ambitious. Joe Kizis, an East Coast show promoter, held an annual Autorama, an indoor rod and custom car show in Hartford, Connecticut. [2] Kizis gave Winfield a $20,000 commission to build an aluminum-bodied show car named the Autorama Special. [3] [4] Designed by Ben Delphia of The Art Center College of Design, [5] [3] this vehicle later became known as The Reactor. Winfield entered The Reactor in the 1966 Grand National Roadster Show where it won the Tournament of Fame Award. [6]
Winfield brought The Reactor to Hollywood in 1966. [2] “I didn’t know anybody” according to Winfield. [2] He managed to show the car to the 20th Century Fox Studios transportation coordinator, and within two weeks the unique car had landed a television role. [2]
Creator Gene Winfield owns The Reactor, which was shown on the lawn at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2017. [3]
Reactor is a front-engined front wheel drive two seater. [3] The bodywork, like that on Winfield's Strip Star, is of lightweight aluminum. [3] The front wheels are exposed and fenderless, while the rears are enclosed by the bodywork and skirts. The roof panel is hinged at the rear and, together with the windshield, tilts up and back to give access to the interior. [2]
Reactor was finished in a trademark Winfield fadeaway paint job, changing from metalflake gold on top to green below. [5]
The car's low hoodline was made possible by its use of a version of the Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 engine. [11] [2] A similar engine was used in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'s Piranha. [12]
Winfield took the air-cooled 180 hp (130 kW) turbocharged flat-six engine from a Corvair Corsa and mated it to the drive-train of a 1962 Citroën DS ID 19 , [3] Winfield kept the wide front and narrow rear track of the donor Citroën, [3] [13] as well as its height adjustable hydropneumatic suspension, which enables the car's ground clearance to be varied from 4 to 9+1⁄2 inches (100 to 240 mm). [14] [7] [15] [3]
The Citroën DS is a front mid-engined, front-wheel drive executive car manufactured and marketed by Citroën from 1955 to 1975, in fastback/sedan, wagon/estate, and convertible body configurations, across three series of one generation.
The Chevrolet Corvair is a compact car manufactured by Chevrolet for model years 1960–1969 in two generations. A response to the Volkswagen Beetle, it remains the only American-designed, mass-produced passenger car with a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine. The Corvair was manufactured and marketed in 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, convertible, 4-door station wagon, passenger van, commercial van, and pickup truck body styles in its first generation (1960–1964) and as a 2-door coupe, convertible or 4-door hardtop in its second (1965–1969) – with a total production of approximately 1.8 million from 1960 until 1969.
Hot rods are typically American cars that might be old, classic, or modern and that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines optimized for speed and acceleration. One definition is: "a car that's been stripped down, souped up and made to go much faster." However, there is no definition of the term that is universally accepted and the term is attached to a wide range of vehicles. Most often they are individually designed and constructed using components from many makes of old or new cars, and are most prevalent in the United States and Canada. Many are intended for exhibition rather than for racing or everyday driving.
The Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 is a flat-six air-cooled automobile engine developed by General Motors (GM) in the late 1950s for use in the rear-engined Chevrolet Corvair of the 1960s. It was used in the entire Corvair line, as well as a wide variety of other applications.
A custom car is a passenger vehicle that has been either substantially altered to improve its performance, often by altering or replacing the engine and transmission; made into a personal "styling" statement, using paintwork and aftermarket accessories to make the car look unlike any car as delivered from the factory; or some combination of both. A desire among some automotive enthusiasts in the United States is to push "styling and performance a step beyond the showroom floor - to truly craft an automobile of one's own." A custom car in British according to Collins English Dictionary is built to the buyer's own specifications.
Chip Foose is an American automobile designer, artist, and star of Velocity's reality television series Overhaulin'.
The Detroit Autorama, also known as America's Greatest Hot Rod Show, is a showcase of custom cars and hot rods held each year at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan, in either late February or early March.
Devin Enterprises was an American automotive manufacturer that operated from 1955 to 1964. Devin was mainly known for producing high quality fiberglass car bodies that were sold as kits, but they also produced automotive accessories as well as complete automobiles. The company was founded by Bill Devin.
Fiberfab was an American automotive manufacturer established in 1964. Starting with accessories and body parts, they progressed to making kit cars and fully assembled automobiles. They became one of the longest lasting kit car manufacturers.
Dick Dean, born Richard Dean Sawitskas [Sa-WITS-kas], was an American automobile designer and builder of custom cars. Father of Keith Dean.
Gene Winfield is an American automotive customizer and fabricator. In the mid-1960s, his designs caught the attention of the film community, resulting in a large body of his work appearing on screen, including in the iconic 1982 film Blade Runner.
Troy Ladd is an American designer and builder of custom cars and hot rods from Burbank, CA known for building traditional styled vehicles. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Business from Vanguard University, Troy formulated a business plan for Hollywood Hot Rods, taking into account location, size of the building and equipment. In 2002 Headquarters for Hollywood Hot Rods were set up in Burbank, CA. Industry magazines took notice of the cars being built at Hollywood Hot Rods and titles such as Street Rodder Magazine, Hot Rod Magazine and Rod & Custom were responsible for getting the word out about Troy Ladd’s shop.
Michael "Blackie" Gejeian was an American race car driver, race car builder, and hot rod enthusiast. Considered an "Industry Legend", Gejeian was the organizer of the Autorama, one of the largest custom car shows in North America, held annually in Fresno, California.
The Plymouth XNR is a concept car developed by Chrysler. It was designed by Virgil Exner, and first shown in 1960. Also called the XNR 500, the car is an open roadster with some asymmetric features, and was proposed as a sporty addition to the Plymouth model lineup, and as competition for the Chevrolet Corvette.
Richard Megugorac, commonly known as Dick or by his nickname Magoo, was an American land speed racer and customizer.
Bill Cushenbery was an American car customizer, show car builder, and model kit designer. Cushenbery was a major influence on the look of custom cars and the customizing industry in general. In addition to building his own designs, he is noted for having helped George Barris create the Batmobile car featured in the 1966–1968 Batman television series.
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George Poteet is an American Memphis-based land speed racer and winner of the 1996 Ridler Award.